CHRIST'S 


OWN 


MODE  OF  BAPTISM. 


BY  , 

Rev.  SAMUEL  J.  BAIRD,  D.D., 

Pastor,  Roxct  verte,  W.  Va. 


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1887 


CLARKSBURG,  W.  VA.  : 

J.    H.    B  A  I  R  D. 

1887. 


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CHRIST^S 


OWN 


MODE  OF  BAPTISM 


EY 


V 


Rev.  SAMUEL  J.  BAIRD,  D.  D., 

Pastor,  Ronckverte,  W.  Va. 


CLARKSBURG,  W.  VA. : 

J.    H.    B  A  I  R  D 

1887. 


Copyright,   1887, 
BY    SAMUEL  J.    BAIRD. 


Westcott   &  Thomson, 

Stereotypers  and  Rlectrotypers,  Philada. 


CHRIST'S  OWN  MODE  OF  BAPTISM. 


Inquirer.  It  was  my  expectation,  my  dear 
pastor,  to  have  sought  before  this  the  privi- 
lege of  adaiission  to  the  communion  of  your 
church,  but  I  have  been  greatly  perplexed 
from  reading  this  tract,  which  has  been  placed 
in  my  hands  by  a  Baptist  friend.  It  would 
a])pear  from  it  that  according  to  the  testi- 
mony of  many  eminent  divines  of  all  de- 
nominations, Luther  and  Calvin  included, 
"  baptism  ^'  is  "  immersioyi.^' 

Pastor.  I  will  not  occupy  time  in  ques- 
tioning, as  I  might,  the  fairness  of  the  refer- 
ences and  fidelity  of  the  quotations  here 
given.  Nor  will  I  trouble  you  by  citing 
other  witnesses,  as  learned,  and  some  of  whom 
have  devoted  more  attention  to  the  subject 
than  any  of  these,  and  have  come  to  an  op- 
posite conclusion.  But  I  observe  that  the 
title  is  Learned  Witnesses  to  Christ^ s  Ordi- 
nances. Would  it  not  have  been  more  sat- 
isfactory if,  instead  of  appeal  to  Christ's  fal- 


lible  servants,  the  writer  had  favored  us  with 
Christ's  own  testimony  ? 

Inquirer.  But  we  are  compelled  to  resort 
to  the  authority  of  learned  men  to  ascertain 
what  is  the  meaning  of  Christ's  words  on  the 
subject. 

Pastor.  If  you  will  permit  me,  I  think 
I  can  show  you  that  Jesus  has  so  clearly  set 
forth  his  own  meaning  that  we  need  no  other 
interpreter  than  the  plain  words  of  our  com- 
mon English  Bible. 

Inquirer.  Do  me  that  favor,  and  I  shall 
be  greatly  relieved  and  much  indebted  to  you. 

Pastor.  When  Jesus  took  water  and  washed 
the  disciples'  feet,  saying,  "  I  have  given  you 
an  example,  that  ye  should  do  as  I  have  done 
unto  you"  (John  xiii.  15),  was  his  meaning 
doubtful? 

Inquirer.  Certainly  not.  His  action  made 
it  plainer  than  words  could  do. 

Pastor.  Christ  has  set  us  an  example  as 
to  baptism  even  more  decisive  than  this  of 
washing  the  disciples'  feet. 

Inquirer.  I  did  not  know  that  Jesus  ever 
baptized  at  all. 


Christ's  own  mode  of  baptism.       5 

Pastor.  Let  us,  theu,  first  examine  that 
point.  May  I  trouble  you  to  find  and  read 
Matthevv  iii.  11? 

Inquirer.  ''  I  indeed  baptize  you  with  wa- 
ter unto  repentance ;  but  he  that  cometh  after 
me  is  mightier  than  I,  whose  shoes  I  am  not 
worthy  to  bear.  He  shall  baptize  you  with 
the  Holy  Ghost  and  with  fire.'^  So  says  John 
the  Baptist  respecting  Jesus.  But  this  is 
somethino;  verv  different  from  that  for  which 
we  are  looking. 

Pastor.  Are  we  not  looking  for  the  form 
of  action  which  Jesus  required  when  he  com- 
manded us  to  baptize  ? 

Inquirer.  That  is  true,  and  I  now  see 
that  if  we  can  ascertain  the  form  of  action 
with  which  Jesus  baptized  we  will  have  an 
infallible  guide  as  to  the  mode  in  which  Ave 
should  fulfil  his  command  to  baptize. 

Pastor.  So  important  is  this  baptizing 
office  of  Christ  that  John's  testimony  to  it 
is  given  by  each  one  of  the  four  evangelists  as 
the  beginning  and  of  the  very  essence  of  the 
gospel.  (See  Mark  i.  8;  Luke  iii.  16;  John 
i.  33.)     In  fact,  it  is  as   important  as  is  his 


6       Christ's  own  mode  of  baptism. 

atoning  priesthood ;  for  it  is  the  very  means 
through  which,  giving  his  Holy  Spirit  to  his 
peojile,  he  unites  them  to  himself  and  bestows 
on  them  the  benefits  of  his  salvation.  From 
what  we  have  seen  we  may  set  down  two 
things  as  unquestionable : 

1.  Jesus  does  baptize. 

2.  He  baptizes,  not  with  water,  but  with  the 
Holy  Ghost. 

Inquirer.  When  did  he  enter  on  this 
office? 

Pastor.  Two  occasions  are  signalized  in 
the  New  Testament.  The  first  was  the  day 
of  Pentecost.  In  the  last  discourse  of  Jesus 
to  his  disciples  at  the  table  the  night  of  his 
betrayal  he  had  forewarned  them  that  he 
must  go  away  to  the  Father  to  receive  the 
Holy  Spirit,  in  order  that  he  might  send  that 
Spirit,  the  Comforter,  to  them.  (John  xii.  16, 
26  ;  XV.  26 ;  xvi.  7.)  This  expected  gift  to 
him  of  the  Spirit  he  afterward  refers  to  as 
"the  promise  of  the  Father.^^  (Luke  xxiv. 
49  ;  Acts  i.  4 ;  ii.  33.)  Respecting  it  he  com- 
manded the  apostles  that  for  the  present  "  they 
should  not  depart  from  Jerusalem,  but  wait 


for  the  promise  of  the  Father j  which^  saith  he, 
ye  have  Iieard  of  me.  For  John  truly  bap- 
tized with  water,  but  ye  shall  be  baptized  with 
the  Holy  Ghost,  not  many  days  hence."  (Acts 
i.  4,  5.)  ''Not  many  days." — They  waited 
ten  days  after  his  ascension.  Will  you  read, 
in  Acts  ii.  1-4,  what  then  took  place? 

Inquirer.  ^'And  when  the  day  of  Pente- 
cost was  fully  come,  they  were  all  with  one 
accord  in  one  place.  And  suddenly  there 
came  a  sound  from  heaven,  as  of  a  rushing 
mighty  wind,  and  it  filled  all  the  house  where 
they  were  sitting.  And  there  appeared  to 
them  cloven  tongues,  like  as  of  fire,  and  it 
sat  upon  each  of  them.  And  they  were  all 
filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  began  to 
speak  with  other  tongues,  as  the  Spirit  gave 
them  utterance." 

Pastor.  Thus  Avith  signal  miracles  of  dem- 
onstration was  the  baptism  of  the  Spirit  given. 

Inquirer.  I  have  heard  it  said  that  this 
was  an  immersion,  for  the  Holy  Ghost  "  filled 
all  the  house,"  and  thus,  of  course,  surround- 
ed and  immersed  those  who  were  in  it. 

Pastor.  If   vou   will   aa^ain    look   at   the 


8       Christ's  own  mode  of  baptism. 

place  (Acts  ii.  2)y^yoii  will  see  that  it  was 
not  the  Holy  Ghost,  but  "  sl  sound  from 
heaven,"  that  filled  the  place.  But  Jesus 
was  not  to  baptize  in  sound.  Respecting 
the  Holy  Ghost  the  statement  of  the  text 
is  the  exact  reverse  of  the  Baptist  theory. 
The  Spirit  was  not  on  the  outside  of  the  dis- 
ciples, surrounding  and  immersing  them,  but 
within  them  :  "  They  were  all  filled  with  the 
Holy  Ghost."  An  outside  presence  of  the 
Spirit  such  as  immersion  implies  would  do 
no  one  any  good.  "  He  shall  be  in  you,"  said 
Jesus.  But  we  have  not  yet  had  all  the  light 
on  the  subject.  Will  you  please  read  Peter's 
words,  from  the  same  chapter,  verses  16-18? 
Inquirer.  "  But  this  is  that  which  was 
spoken  by  the  prophet  Joel.  And  it  shall 
come  to  pass  in  the  last  days,  saith  God,  I 
will  j90itr  out  of  my  Spirit  on  all  flesh ;  and 
your  sons  and  your  daughters  shall  prophesy, 
and  your  young  men  shall  see  visions,  and 
your  old  men  shall  dream  dreams,  and  on 
my  servants  and  on  my  handmaidens  will  I 
pour  out  in  those  days  of  my  Spirit;  and  they 
shall  prophesy." 


CHRIST^S   OWN    MODE   OF    BAPTISM.  9 

Pastor.  Peter  thus  testifies  that  the  Lord^s 
action  on  this  occasion  was  an  outpouring,  and 
that  it  was  a  fulfihiient  of  the  prophecies, 
exemplified  from  Joel,  of  God's  purpose  to 
pour  out  his  Spirit  in  the  gospel  day.  Peter 
goes  on  to  show  that  this  outpouring  was  the 
baptism  which  Jesus  was  to  administer,  as  you 
will  see  in  verses  32,  33. 

Inquirer.  "This  Jesus  hath  God  raised 
up,  whereof  we  all  are  witnesses.  Therefore, 
beiug  by  the  right  hand  of  God  exalted,  and 
having  received  of  the  Father  the  promise  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  he  hath  shed  forth  this  which 
ye  now  see  and  hear.'' 

Pastor.  Jesus  was  to  baptize  with  the  Holy 
Ghost.  He  had  told  his  disciples  of  the  Fa- 
ther's promise  to  give  him  the  Spirit  for  that 
purpose,  upon  his  ascension,  and  assured  them 
that  upon  its  fulfilment  they  should  receive 
the  baptism.  The  Father's  promise  is  now 
fulfilled,  and  thereupon  the  Spirit  is  shed 
forth  by  Jesus,  and  the  baptism  is  thus  given. 
This  was  the  beginning  of  the  baptizing  office 
of  the  ascended  Jesus. 

Inquirer.  You  spake  of  two  special  occa- 


sions  of  the  administration  of  this  baptism. 
What  was  the  second? 

Pastor.  The  second  was  as  significant  as 
the  first.  The  one  was  the  beginning  of  the 
gospel  to  Israel.  The  other  opened  its  doors 
to  the  Gentiles  in  the  house  of  Cornelius. 
Will  you  read  Acts  x.  44-47  ? 

Inquirer.  ^' While  Peter  yet  spake  these 
words,  the  Holy  Ghost  fell  on  all  them  which 
heard  the  word.  And  they  of  the  circumcis- 
ion, which  believed,  were  astonished,  as  many 
as  came  with  Peter,  because  that  on  the  Gen- 
tiles also  was  poured  out  the  gift  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.  For  they  heard  them  speak  with 
tongues  and  magnify  God.  Then  answered 
Peter,  Can  any  man  forbid  loater,  that  these 
should  not  be  baptizedj  which  have  received 
the  Holy  Ghost  as  well  as  we?" 

Pastor.  This  narrative  of  Luke  is  very 
explicit.  But  let  us  hear  Peter's  own  ac- 
count of  the  matter  as  given  in  the  next 
chapter.  Acts  xi.  15,  16. 

Inquirer.  ^^As  I  began  to  speak,  the 
Holy  Ghost  fell  on  them,  as  on  us  at  the 
beginning.      Then    remembered  I  the  word 


Christ's  own  mode  of  baptism,      11 

of  the  Lord,  how  that  he  said,  John,  indeed, 
baptized  with  water,  but  ye  shall  be  baptized 
with  the  Holy  Ghost." 

Pastor.  Here  the  scene  is  identified  with 
that  of  Pentecost  by  Peter's  statement  that 
it  was  "  as  on  us  at  the  beginning."  From 
the  two  accounts  of  this  transaction  the  fol- 
lowing particulars  appear :  1 .  The  action, 
that  "  on  the  Gentiles  was  poured  out  the  gift 
of  the  Holy  Ghost;"  2.  The  Spirit  thus 
poured  out  ^'fell  on^'  them;  3.  They  thus 
"received  the  Holy  Ghost;"  4.  This  was 
that  baptism  with  the  Holy  Ghost  which  Je- 
sus had  promised ;  5.  It  was  administered  by 
him.  Here  it  may  be  worthy  of  your  notice 
that  there  is  nothing  said  of  the  house  of  Cor- 
nelius being  filled  with  a  sound  or  wind,  or 
anything  else  in  which  an  immersion  could 
be  imagined. 

Inquirer.  In  its  relation  to  the  form  of 
baptism  all  this  is  to  me  wholly  new  and 
conclusive.  Jesus  assuredly  did  baptize  his 
people  with  the  Spirit  on  these  two  occasions, 
and  yet  thereon  he  performed  but  one  action 
— that  of  pouring  out  the  Spirit.     His  people 


12 


thus  received  and  were  filled  with  the  Spirit. 
They  needed  nothing  more — Christ  could  give 
them  nothing  more — than  was  conveyed  and 
implied  in  this.  It  certainly  was  the  bap- 
tism which  he  had  taught  them  to  await. 

Pastor.  To  the  points  already  ascertained 
we  may,  then,  add  these : 

3.  Jesus  began  to  baptize  on  Pentecost  and 
in  the  house  of  Cornelius. 

4.  His  only  action  there  was  the  shedding 
forth  of  the  Spirit. 

5.  This,  therefore,  was  ivhat  he  meant  by 
the  promise  to  baptize. 

6.  His  command,  therefore,  to  us  to  baptize 
with  water  means  that  we  should  shed  water 
on  the  disciples. 

Inquirer.  In  all  this  there  is  nothing  of 
sprinliing.  I  should  like  to  hav^e  some  light 
on  that  point,  and  on  the  meaning  of  the  form 
of  baptism. 

Pastor.  The  two  points  are  so  nearly  re- 
lated that  we  can  examine  them  together. 
You  have  seen  the  prophecy  of  Joel  of  the 
pouring  out  of  the  Spirit.  Will  you  in  that 
connection  read  Isaiah  xliv.  3,  4? 


13 

Inquieer.  "  I  will  pour  water  upon  him 
that  Is  thirsty,  and  floods  upon  the  dry  ground. 
I  will  pour  my  Spirit  upon  thy  seed,  and  my 
blessing  upon  thine  offspring ;  and  they  shall 
spring  up  as  among  the  grass,  as  willows  by 
the  watercourses." 

Pastor.  You  see  that  Joel  and  Isaiah 
speak  of  the  same  coming  grace,  and  that 
the  language  of  Isaiah  shows  the  figure  which 
they  use  to  be  that  of  the  descending  rain. 
As  the  rain  is  shed  down  from  the  clouds, 
penetrates  the  earth,  softens  it  and  causes  the 
vegetation  to  germinate  and  grow,  so  the 
Spirit,  shed  down  by  Jesus  from  his  throne, 
enters  and  softens  ^^the  stony  heart"  and 
causes  the  plants  of  grace  to  spring  and  flour- 
ish in  fruitfulness.  Hence  Paul's  language  as 
to  "  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit."  (Gal.  v.  22 ; 
Eph.  V.  9,  etc.)  Other  illustrations  of  this 
beautiful  figure — which  runs  all  through  the 
Scriptures — you  will  find  in  Psalm  Ixxii.  6 ; 
Prov.  i.  23  ;  Isa.  xxxii.  13-15  ;  xlv.  8  ;  Ezek. 
xxxix.  29;  Hos.  x.  12;  Rom.  v.  5;  Tit.  iii.5, 
6,  etc.  The  figure  of  the  rain  gave  form  to 
the  Levitical  sprinklings  for  purification.  (See 


14     Christ's  own  mode  of  baptism. 

Lev.  xiv.  7,  51;  Num.  viii.  7;  xix.  18,  etc.) 
With  reference  to  these  cleansing  rites,  the 
grace  of  Christ  in  the  bestowal  of  the  Spirit 
is  sometimes  spoken  of  as  a  sprinkling,  as 
you  may  see  in  Ezekiel  xxxvi.  25-27. 

Inquirer.  ^'  Then  will  I  sprinkle  clean 
water  upon  you  and  ye  shall  be  clean  ;  from 
all  your  filthiness  and  from  all  your  idols 
will  I  cleanse  you.  A  new  heart  also  will  I 
give  you,  and  a  new  spirit  will  I  put  within 
you  ;  and  I  will  take  away  the  stony  heart 
out  of  your  flesh,  and  I  will  give  you  a  heart 
of  flesh.  And  I  will  put  my  Spirit  within 
you.'' 

Pastor.  You  at  once  see  that  this  pas- 
sage is  a  prophecy  of  the  very  same  blessings 
w^hich  Joel  predicted,  and  w^iich  the  day  of 
Pentecost  witnessed.  So,  again,  Isaiah  says 
of  the  humiliation  of  Christ,  "  As  many  were 
astonished  at  thee,  his  visage  was  so  marred 
more  than  any  man,  and  his  form  more  than 
the  sons  of  men,  so  shall  he  sprinhle  many 
nations."  (Isa.  lii.  14,  15.  )  From  these  scrip- 
tures you  may  see  that  the  two  words  "  pour  " 
and  "sprinkle"  express  the  very  same  action 


Christ's  own  mode  of  baptism.      15 

of  sending  forth  or  imparting  the  Spirit.  The 
relation  of  these  words  to  each  other  is  illus- 
trated by  the  language  of  Elihu  in  Job  xxxvi. 
27,  28.  *  Will  jou  read  ? 

Inquirer.  "  He  maketh  small  the  drops 
of  water;  they  pour  down  rain,  according  to 
the  vapor  thereof,  which  the  clouds  do  drop 
and  distil  upon  man  abundantly.'^ 

Pastor.  The  drops  of  rain  are  poured 
down  out  of  the  clouds  and  sprinkle  the 
ground.  The  words  '^pour"  and  '^shed" 
are  the  same  in  the  original,  and  express  the 
action  of  bestowal.  SprinhUng  indicates  the 
distributive  and  diffusive  manner  of  it.  The 
two  forms  are  essentially  one  and  the  same, 
and  alike  symbolize  the  imparting  of  the 
Spirit  by  the  Lord  Jesus.  In  these  forms 
the  Scriptures  everywhere  speak  of  it.  On 
the  other  hand,  you  may  search  the  Bible  in 
vain  for  any  reference  to  the  giving  or  agency 
of  the  Spirit  under  the  figure  of  immersion. 

Inquirer.  I  am  thoroughly  satisfied.  Je- 
sus knew  the  meaning  of  "  baptize."  At 
least,  he  certainly  knew  his  own  meaning, 
when    he    used   the   word.     He  employed   it 


16     Christ's  own  mode  of  baptism. 


with  reference  to  the  grandest  occasion  in 
the  history  of  redemption — that  of  his  own 
enthronement  and  entrance  on  the  ministra- 
tion of  the  Spirit  to  his  people.  He  prom- 
ised to  baptize  them,  and  he  is  "  faithful  and 
true.''  But  he  did  not  immerse  them ;  to 
baptize  cannot,  then,  mean  to  immerse.  He 
promised  to  baptize  them,  and  fulfilled  the 
promise  by  shedding  the  Spirit  upon  them. 
Such  a  gift  as  this  from  Jesus  must  be  the 
baptism  of  all  baptisms,  and  was  appropri- 
ately signalized  by  the  accompanying  signs 
and  wonders.  Water-baptism  is  brought  into 
inseparable  relation  to  it  by  the  manner  of 
the  apostolic  commission:  ^^  Tarry,  till  ye  be 
baptized  with  the  Spirit.  Then  go,  preach 
the  gospel  and  baptize  with  water." 

Chrisfs  promise  was  fulfilled  by  the  sheddirig 
of  the  Spirit.  His  command,  therefore,  is  to 
be  obeyed  by  the  shedding  of  water;  and  the 
form  of  the  latter  is  a  lucid  symbol  of  the 
grace  of  the  other. 


l'l'mri'llin''ii°'°^'"'  Seminary-Speer  Lil 


1    1012  01021   2282 


